Although captioned as an 'x-ray of 900lb man', many have suggested it looks more like a 3D model.

Others have suggested it could be a fake.

Either way it gives an insight into the incredible pressure obesity puts on the human skeleton.

If true, it would mean the man, who has not been named, weighs over 64 stone.

A man this size would struggle to have an MRI or CT scan at an NHS hospital.

It was suggested recently that hospitals may have to start taking chronically obese patients to zoos or vets to be weighed using equipment normally reserved for animals.

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC)said its CT scanners, customised for horses, could be used to accommodate patients weighing 30 stone or more but they would need to get a special licence to scan humans.